Title

Author

Faculty Advisor

Aravind, Padmanabhan K.

Abstract

The study of exoplanets is an emerging field of astrophysics which endeavors to discover and study planets located outside of our Solar System. Since the discovery of PSR1257+12 b in 1992, nearly a thousand extrasolar planets have been confirmed and carefully examined, vastly expanding our knowledge of the planetary sciences and the universe as a whole. This project primarily develops an overarching understanding of the physics and history behind the development of the exoplanetary sciences, including an analysis of the trends found in the current list of exoplanetary discoveries. With a specific focus and examination of the transit method, this project also provides a summary of data gathered from a live observation of the WASP-13 exoplanetary system.

Publisher

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Date Accepted

September 2014

Major

Physics

Major

Humanities and Arts

Project Type

Major Qualifying Project

Additional files

Copyright Statement

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